Teeter-totter



May 14, 1963 N. F. FLEscH A 3,089,699

TEETER-TOTTER Filed March 17, 1961 3,089,699 TEETER-TOTTER Norman F. Flesch, iark Forest, Ill., assigner to Amsted Industries incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 96,576 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-54) This invention relates to toys land more particularly to teeter-totters, seesaws, and the like.

It has heretofore been customary for teeter-totters, seesaws, and the like, to primarily limit the motion of the players to substantially vertical motion as the teeterboard is pivoted about its pivotal support, or shaft, at or near the center of its horizontal axis. Certain novel features of my invention Will also accommodate motion of the teeterboard in other directions, if desired by the players.

One object of my invention is to provide a toy of the type described in Which the teeterboard, in addition to the conventional teetering action described above, may move in an up and down motion along the vertical axis of the teeterboard support. The teeterhoard may also be allowed to move in a limited oscillatory motion about the vertical axis of the teeterboard support. A rocking motion of the teeterboard may be induced causing the board to rock alternately to the left and right of the player in the seated position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy which will be constructed with a minimum number of very durable parts resulting in high reliability and minimum maintenance. This construction avoids the use of a pivot pin, shaft, or other friction bearing surfaces between the teeterboard and the board support. No lubrication is ever required.

Other object-s and features of my invention will become apparent from an examination of the following descript-ion and the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts.

FIGURE l is a plan view of the teeter-totter embodying my invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 1 and 2, the base consists of a base member that rests on oppositely disposed end members 11. Said end members 11 are rigidly secured generally centrally thereof to the base member 10 preferably at right angles thereto.

A vertically mounted coil spring 12 is rigidly secured to the upper surface of the base member 10 at the longitudinal center thereof by means of clamping brackets 13, said brackets forming U-shaped clamps on the coil spring 12. The lower end of the coil spring 12 is bent parallel toits longitudinal axis A-A to form a lower spring locating pin 14. The spring locating pin 14 is set into a hole 15 in base member 10.

The upper end of the coil spring 12 is lrigidly secured to the `lower surface of the teeterboard 16, at the longitudinal center thereof, by means of clam-ping brackets 17, said brackets forming Ushaped clamps on the coil spring 12. The upper end of the coil spring 12 is bent parallel to -axis A--A of the spring to forman upper spring locating pin 18. The upper spring locating pin 18 is set into a hole 19 in the teeter board 16. The teeterboard 16 is preferably made of wood but could as well be made of other material.

Outwardly from axis A-A toward the ends 27 of the -teeterboard 16 and intermediate the sides thereof, substantially T-shaped members 20 extend upwardly to form handles 'that may be grasped by children seated on opposite ends 27 of the teeterboard 16. Each T-shaped member 20 comprises a cross-member 21 rigidly attached to a shank 22. The lower end of the shank 22 is preferably threaded and extends through an aperture 26 in the teeterboard 16 and is secured by a retaining Washer 23, lock washer 24, and retaining nut 25.

The 'operation of my invention will be readily under- -stood from the above description. During conventional teetering action, one side of the coil spring 12 will be in compression when the corresponding side of the teeterboard is in a lowered position. At the same time, the opposite side of the coil spring 12 will be in tension. As the teeter board 16 is in teetering action, a given side will alternately be under compression and tension.

If lboth players lift their Weight simultaneously and allow the same to return to the teeterboard 16 in a jumping motion, the entire spring will alternately compress and elongate causing the entire teeterboard to move in an up and down springing motion.

Another motion of the teeterboard 16 may be induced by having one or both of the players urge the teeterboard in a direction to the right or left of the longitudinal axis B-B of the teeterboard 16. 'This causes oscillatory clockwise :or counterclockwise rotation of the teeterboard 16 on the vertical spring axis A-A as the coil spring 12 alternately coils and Iuncoils around its steady state un- .sprung position.

If both players push simultaneously and equally lfrom opposite ends of the teeterboard 16 in a direction to the right or left -of the seated position, the teeterboard may be made to rock or rotate to the left or iight about its longiudin-al B-B.

Any combination of the above motions can be induced by the players depending upon their skill.

It is understood that various modifications may be made in the structure -of my invention, within the scope of the following claim without departing from the basic concept of my invention.

I claim:

In a seesaw, a horizontal base, a helical compression spring mounted vertically on said base, a teeterboard mounted intermediate its ends on said spring, means securing the end convolutions [of said spring to said base and teeterboard, rescpectively, whereby said teeterboard is resiliently supported for Vertical, angular `and rotational movements relative to said base responsive to alternate engagement of the base by players seated on opposite ends of the teeterboard.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,939,927 Shaffer Dec. 19, 1933 2,007,852 Fuller July 9, 1935 2,494,094 Horstman Jan. 10, 1950 2,996,298 Grosse et al Aug. 15, 1961 

